Continue his legacy

2015 Annual Convention

Support the Foundation!

Make a Donation Today!

2014 Convention Speakers

Yvonne Bellay, DVM, MS

Dr. Yvonne Bellay manages animal welfare programs for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, where she is also an epidemiologist. She oversees the department's training and certification of local humane officers, and its dog seller and rabies control programs. In addition, she deals with zoonotic disease and public health issues, serving as the department's liaison with state and local public health departments. Dr. Bellay also acts as a resource to local authorities in investigating and resolving local animal welfare complaints.

Hattie Bortnowski, DVM

Dr. Hattie Bortnowski received DVM from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and completed a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991. She is board certified by the ACVIM in Internal Medicine. Since 1996, Dr. Bortnowski has been a clinical instructor in SAIM at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she lectures on endocrinology to the third year veterinary medical students.

Christine Cashen

For the past ten years, Christine Cashen has entertained a variety of audiences throughout the world by combining a down-to-earth attitude with a colorful artistic streak. Cashen is a member of the National Speakers Association and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). CSP is an earned designation awarded by the National Speakers Association and the International Federation for Professional Speakers to recognize demonstrated commitment to the speaking profession through proven speaking experience.

Stephanie Caston, DVM, DACVS-LA

Dr. Stephanie Caston grew up in southeast Texas, completed her undergraduate at McNeese State and then attended Texas A&M Veterinary College. After a surgical residency at Iowa State University followed by two years as an emergency surgeon, she took a faculty position at ISU. Dr. Caston's current research and interests include soft tissue surgery, neoplasia, wound healing and GI disease.

Chris Chase, DVM, MS, PhD

Dr. Chris Chase attended South Dakota State University for pre-veterinary medicine, received his DVM from Iowa State University and MS and PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chase practiced full time for five years and 17 years part-time in South Dakota. Dr. Chase co-founded and serves as the president of RTI, a contract research organization that specializes in bovine, swine and poultry health studies.

Victor Cortese, D.V.M., PhD, DABVP

Dr. Victor Cortese graduated from Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980. Currently, he is the director technical services—cattle and equine immunology for Zoetis. Dr. Cortese has many publications on viral infections in cattle and horses, immunology, neonatal immunology, endurance ride management and young dairy calf management

Wanda Gordon-Evans, DVM, PhD, DACVS

Following her DVM training, Dr. Wanda Gordon-Evans completed a PhD in Biomedical Sciences and became a board certified surgeon. Since joining the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center, she has maintained leadership positions in American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Veterinary Orthopedic Society, and the Scientific Advisory Board for Morris Animal Foundation. Dr. Gorden-Evans continues to publish in rehabilitation, regenerative medicine, and cruciate disease.

Patrick Gorden, DVM

Dr. Patrick Gorden was in private dairy practice for 14 years, in Platteville, Wis. and in Phoenix, Ariz. In 2007, he joined the faculty at Iowa State University in the food supply veterinary medicine section where he provides outreach to dairy veterinarians and dairy producers and educates veterinary students on dairy medicine.

Mark Hilton, DVM

Dr. Mark Hilton is the clinical professor of beef production medicine at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. For five years he was a partner and practice owner of an 80 percent food animal practice in DeWitt, Iowa. Currently, Dr. Hilton teaches beef production medicine, achieving success in private practice and takes fourth year veterinary medical student on food animal ambulatory calls.

Cia Johnson, DVM, MS

Dr. Cia Johnson earned her DVM and MS from the University of Missouri-Columbia. As an Assistant Director in the Animal Welfare Division at the AVMA, she provides staff support to the AVMA's Panel on Humane Slaughter and Animal Welfare Committee and serves as a link between the division and other veterinary organizations.

Meredyth Jones, DVM, MS

After graduation, Dr. Meredyth Jones entered mixed-animal practice in Kentucky, later completing a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine and a Master's degree at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Jones then taught food animal field services at Kansas State for six years and moved to a similar position at Texas A&M in 2012.

Melissa Kennedy, DVM, PhD

Dr. Melissa Kennedy graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983 and practiced for five years. Dr. Kennedy completed a PhD in comparative and experimental medicine in 1991 and a residency in microbiology in 1993 at which time she became a member of the faculty at the UTCVM. Currently, Dr. Kennedy is associate professor and director of the clinical virology laboratory.

Jordan Lamb

Jordan Lamb is a partner at DeWitt Ross & Stevens law firm in Madison, Wisconsin. Jordan's law practice focuses on environmental law and government relations. Her practice is enhanced by her love of all things written and her strong public speaking skills. Her ability to connect with others through her writing and public speaking provides the platform for her practice. Jordan assists clients with making critical connections between business and Wisconsin state government. Her clients are from diverse industries including agriculture, bioscience, insurance and business.

Bob Leder, DVM

Dr. Bob Leder graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1982, and then completed a food animal internship at the University of Idaho's Caine Veterianry Teaching Center in Caldwell, Idaho. Dr. Leder has been practicing veterinary medicine in Wisconsin since 1983, working primarily with dairy cows and farmers. He is currently a partner in a nine doctor practice with offices in Bear Creek and Clintonville, Wis. Dr. Leder has served on the WVMA executive board and is currently the chair of the large animal welfare subcommittee.

Paul McGraw, DVM

Dr. Paul McGraw completed his undergraduate studies at University of Wisconsin-River Falls and obtained his DVM degree at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. McGraw worked in private veterinary practice for sixteen years before coming to DATCP as assistant state veterinarian in 2004. In April 2013, Dr. McGraw was elected as the state veterinarian for Wisconsin.

Peter Muir, BVSc, MVetClinStud, PhD, DACVS, ECVS

Dr. Peter Muir obtained his veterinary degree in 1985 and his PhD in 1990 from Bristol University in the United Kingdom. Dr. Muir subsequently obtained a Master's degree from The University of Sydney in 1992 and then completed residency training in small animal surgery at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995.

Brian Scott, DVM, DACVD

Dr. Brian Scott received his undergraduate from Auburn University and his DVM degree at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1987. He is Board Certified from the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and splits his time between South Texas Veterinary Specialists in San Antonio, Texas and Animal Dermatology South in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Sandra Newbury, DVM

Dr. Sandra Newbury joined the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the University of California, Davis in 2006 and also serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. She serves as both the Chair of the Shelter Standards Task Force of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and as a member of the ASV Board of Directors.

Theresa Ollivett, DVM, PhD, DACVS-LA

Dr. Theresa Ollivett has worked as an associate veterinarian in northern New York state for three years and as a large animal internal medicine resident at Cornell University before completing a PhD at the University of Guelph. In May 2014, she transitioned to a faculty position at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Elisabeth Patton, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM

Elisabeth Patton received her DVM degree from Colorado State University in 1991. In 1996, she completed a combined Master's and large animal medicine residency from the University of Wisconsin-School of Veterinary Medicine and is board certified with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. She received her PhD in Immunology from Cornell University in 2000. She has been working at DATCP as the Johne's Program Manager for the state of Wisconsin since 2003 and in 2011 she also began serving as the Tuberculosis Program Manager.

Sheryl Shaw, DVM, MPH

Dr. Sheryl Shaw is a 1989 graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. She spent 11.5 years in private practice in Wisconsin and then Montana. Dr. Shaw has been with the USDA since 2000, spending time in Food Safety (FSIS) and then APHIS Veterinary Services as an export veterinary medical officer and area epidemiology officer in Minnesota. Dr. Shaw completed a master's of public health at the University of Minnesota in 2008 and the USDA Graduate School Executive Leadership Program in 2011. Dr. Shaw began her duties as area veterinarian in charge in Wisconsin in November, 2012.

Amy Stone, DVM, PhD

Dr. Amy Stone is the Chief of the Primary Care and Dentistry Service at the University of Florida's Small Animal Hospital. Dr. Stone completed her DVM and PhD in immunology at UF. Dr. Stone's professional interests include preventive medicine, vaccinology/immunology, dentistry and communication. Currently, Dr. Stone is working on an alternate track residency in dentistry.

Bruce VanEnkevort, DVM, DACVS

Dr. Bruce VanEnkevort received his DVM degree in 1991 and completed a surgical residency in 1996 at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. He became a member of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1999 and has been a staff surgeon at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center in Appleton, Wis. for the past 17 years.

Julie Walker, DVM, DACVECC

Dr. Julie Walker graduated from the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, then completed a small animal rotating internship and emergency and critical care residency at North Carolina State University. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine.